Newsletter

The state attorney general’s office has taken over the investigation into former Chatham County Coroner James Metts Jr., who resigned late last year after internal auditors questioned Metts’ use of public funds.

In a letter dated March 21, District Attorney Meg Heap notified Attorney General Sam Olens that she was disqualifying herself from the case and requested his assistance.

Heap said on Monday that she made the request because she worked at one time as a private attorney with Metts’ son, James “Clay” Metts III, a local private practice attorney. Heap said she wanted to avoid any conflicts of interest.

Tom Durden, district attorney for the Atlantic Judicial Circuit, has since been assigned the case, according to a March 27 memo from Olens.

“Our office will have no involvement,” Heap said.

The state attorney general’s office was closed Monday for Confederate Memorial Day, and officials there could not be reached for comment.

The case was referred to the district attorney’s office after the GBI completed its investigation into the matter earlier this year. The county had requested that the GBI take over the case after internal auditors cited at least $141,000 in expenses as “questionable” — including payments for a secretary that Metts did not have. Almost $100,000 in additional funding for secretary reimbursement could not be verified due to a lack of documentation, according to the audit report.

Metts, 81, had resigned as commissioner on Dec. 14, only about one month after being re-elected to the position he had held since 1973.

Metts could not be reached for comment. His attorney, Tom Withers, declined to discuss the matter.

County Attorney Jon Hart said the county intended to deposit two checks from Metts totaling $141,000 this week, as soon as he verified there was enough money in the account.

Metts had provided the checks in late December and early January to resolve “accounting discrepancies” discovered during the audit, according to an accompanying letter.

Hart said that after reviewing any potential legal ramifications, he decided that depositing the checks would not hinder any potential criminal case against Metts.